The µLCD-35DT is a 3.5-inch, 480×320-resolution intelligent display module with resistive touch screen, on-board audio amplifier and a microSD slot. Driving the display and peripherals is the 4D DIABLO16 processor, a very capable and powerful chip that enables stand-alone functionality programmed in 4DGL using the 4D Systems Workshop4 IDE Software. The Workshop4 IDE enables graphic solutions to be constructed rapidly and with ease.

The DIABLO16 Processor offers considerable Flash and RAM upgrades over the earlier 4D PICASO processor, and also provides mappable functions such as I2C, SPI, Serial, PWM, Pulse Out, and Quadrature Input, in addition to various GPIO and up to four Analog Input channels.

This display module has an array of features including PWM for sound, Touch Detection, microSD memory storage, general-purpose I/O including Analog Inputs, multiple TTL Serial, I2C and SPI channels, and multiple millisecond-resolution timers, among other features.

If you've previously used a PICASO-based intelligent display module from 4D, you should only need to make minor changes to your 4DGL code to get it to run on the DIABLO.

4DGL is a graphics-oriented language allowing you to write applications in high-level code with syntax similar to popular languages such as BASIC, C and Pascal. The 4DGL-Workshop4 IDE (editor, compiler and downloader) also features the ViSi-Genie, a drag-and-drop graphical interface that will create 4DGL code for you — all you need to do is place pre-made objects onto a simulated image of the display, size and set parameters to your liking, then a single click will generate the 4DGL code to make that object functional.

Using the Workshop IDE, the module also can be loaded with a Serial Application that transforms it into a Serial Slave to virtually any serial host.

The DIABLO16 processor on the display module also can be re-programmed with different ‘Personality Module Micro-Code’ (PmmC) files for updates and future proofing. The process of updating the PmmC firmware or downloading your 4DGL program code requires connection of a USB converter that uses the DTR signal to pulse the Reset line on the processor. Two converters that can plug directly into this module are available from the "Optional Recommended Products" list below.

Supports all available Windows fonts and characters (imported as external fonts)

4.0V to 5.5V range operation (single supply) *

Four corner plates with 2.6mm holes for mounting

RoHS and CE compliant

* The display must be powered by 4V to 5.5V via the programming header or the expansion header (minimum 5V for full backlight brightness). For example, you can connect the 4D Programming Cable to power the board from USB.

The display module also has unpopulated areas to install wiring loom connectors for remote-mount applications. These components are not included.

Included with the display module is a 150mm 5-pin Female-to-Female jumper cable for quick connection to another device or breadboard, and a 5-pin Male-to-Male pin adapter for that cable.

Expansion Header

The GPIOs are configurable for various alternative functions, such as:

3x I2C channels available

1x dedicated for SD Card and 3x configurable SPI channels available

1x dedicated and 3x configurable TTL Serial comm ports available

Up to 6 GPIO can be used as Pin Counters

Up to 6 GPIO for PWM (simple and servo)

Up to 10 GPIO for Pulse Output

Up to 14 GPIO can be configured for Quadrature Encoder Inputs (2 channels)

Four different usage methods

The 4D Systems Workshop4 IDE supports multiple development environments, to cater for different user requirements and skill levels.

The Designer environment enables you to write 4DGL code in its natural form to program the display module.

The ViSi visual programming experience enables drag-and-drop placement of objects to assist with 4DGL code generation and allows you to visualize how the display will look.

The ViSi-Genie advanced environment doesn't require any 4DGL coding at all; it is done automatically for you. Simply lay out the display with the objects you want (similar to ViSi), set the events to drive them and the code is written for you automatically.

The Serial environment is provided to transform the display module into a slave serial display module, allowing you to control the display from any host microcontroller or device with a serial port. Serial libraries are available for C, Pascal, PicAxe, and Arduino.

TFT LCD Graphical Touchscreen Module Resources

4D Workshop4 IDE Tool: This is a free software tool for Windows. The 4D-Workshop4 IDE provides an integrated software development environment for the DIABLO16 processor and associated display modules. The IDE combines the Editor, Compiler, Linker and Downloader to develop complete 4DGL application code. All user application code is developed within the Workshop4 IDE. After clicking the above link, scroll down to find links to the software and the documentation of its various components. Some of the documentation, and the links to Arduino/PicAxe/C/Pascal serial libraries, have versions for three different graphics chips; be sure to download the DIABLO16 versions.